Why Do the Innocent Suffer?

I have been teaching my students the book of Job. The question this book raises is "Why do the innocent suffer?" After going through a whirlwind of suffering, Job never finds out why (though his 'friends' try to tell him it is his sin or for discipline). God only speaks to him out of the storm and puts Job in his place. God really assures Job that he has not been abandoned and that He is sovereign over everything. All Job needs to do is trust God in faith.

I read the list of things Paul suffers in 2 Corinthians 6: beatings, imprisonments, riots, hard work, sleepless nights, hunger, poverty.... I asked myself and God, "If I truly experienced all this and more for a long period of time would I be able to persevere in my faith?" I know other people like Jospeh, Job and Jesus have gone before me and have persevered, but how do I know I will stand firm until the end?

God encouraged me that through suffering I can focus not on the circumstances but on His character. I can focus on the glory to come. I pray that I will remain faithful to the end, and I pray for those Christians who are suffering all over the world right now. Let us remember: 2 Cor. 4.17-18 "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."